Eddie Long wants his money back By Professor Locs – October 12, 2011

You would think that Bishop Eddie Long would be trying to lay low these days, but no, he is in the news again.

You guys remember that Long, pastor of the mega flock New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, has been shrouded in scandal ever since several young male members of his congregation come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct. Long agreed to settle their lawsuits out of court to put the matter to rest.

Apparently the hush money was not enough, because some of Long’s accusers are speaking out…and Long wants his money back.

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The bishop reportedly paid about $1 million in settlement money. I guess that is the standard rate for taking the innocence of several young males.

I wonder if Target has a similar exchange policy: “Hi, I want to get a refund on this suit that I stole, wore to a wild bachelor party and damaged. And do you think I could get that in cash?”

Did Long really think a few thousand dollars would be enough to buy the silence of those young men forever?

I grew up in the church and was fortunate that many of my male mentors honored their roles as spiritual leaders and surrogate father. It is unfortunate that these young men did not enjoy a similar relationship with Long.

Jamal Parris, one of Long’s accusers, told an Atlanta TV station that he loved Long as a father figure but considered him a “monster” and a “predator.”

"I loved him,” the young man said, “and I'm always going to have love for the things he taught us, but how he left us hurt is worse than anything I ever felt in my life.”

These young men are obviously deeply scarred, and part of their healing is to speak out and tell their side of the story. They say the truth shall set you free. A few of the young men are planning to write a tell-all book, to which the bishop issued the following statement:

“Unfortunately, we are in the media again and people are wondering what I am going to say. All parties involved decided to resolve the civil cases out of court. The decision was made to bring closure to this matter and allow us to move forward with the plans God has for this ministry."

You must remember that Long has been a vehement crusader against gay marriage and homosexuality, so the hypocrisy of this situation is deplorable. Regardless of where you stand on gay folks, the plain truth is this: Long’s sexuality is not the issue but rather his absolute abuse power and authority as a mentor and spiritual leader.

And to add insult to injury, we have yet another mega preacher co-signing Long’s behavior: Enter Creflo “Holla If You Hear Me” Dollar, who was recently taped in one of his sermons scolding Long’s flock, trivializing Long’s sexual misconduct and telling members who are fleeing Long’s church that they are not welcome in his congregation.

How is that for a great Christian attitude?

I found the video below and was truly disturbed. No wonder people turn away from organized religion, and no, I did not say “God.” Here we have two high-profile ministers who seem to be co-signing unscrupulous behavior, scolding their congregations for daring to hold them to a higher standard.

Should we not look to our leaders, especially our spiritual leaders, to set an example? It is sad that church, a place that represented an extended family and a safe refuge when I was growing up, has today become the playground for men who think their high-profile status gives them absolute autonomy.

Please review the video and tell me what you see. Men of God or pimps in the pulpit?